Plane Thinking

Flyboys

Directed by Tony Bill

The exploits of the Lafayette Escadrille may be legend to aviation buffs, but few other people (at least not many under the age of 90) know much about the heroics of this courageous crew. As America's first fighter pilots, these boys flew for the Allies and defended France during the darkest days of World War I. Thanks to Flyboys, the Lafayette Escadrille is about to become famous once again. This new film is the first WWI aviation movie to be made in 75 years about them-since The Dawn Patrol and Hell's Angels were produced in 1930, a year after Wings-the first-ever WWI aviation film-won the first-ever Best Picture Oscar. In all, 265 American pilots flew for France during WWI, manning flimsy Nieuport biplanes with canvas wings and open cockpits. They were heroes, daredevils with a mission, and most of them died in dogfight combat.

Focusing on several fictional characters inspired by real Lafayette Espadrille pilots, Flyboys follows Texas cowboy Blaine Rawlings (James Franco), escaped con Eddie Beagle (David Ellison), rich boy Briggs Lowry (Tyler Labine) and the especially engaging Eugene Skinner (Abdul Salis)-the son of a slave, this black ex-pat boxer survived the war to end all wars only to be denied a place in the U.S. Army Air Service because of his race (true!). Serving under the demanding-but-fatherly French Captain Thenault (Jean Reno), these boys quickly become men as they learn to fly and, facing Germany's superior aircraft and gunnery, fight as a team. They share, they bond. Their life expectancy is three-to-six weeks.

Flyboys has enormous heart-it's manifested in the pilots' awesome courage and ethics and in the touching romance between Blaine and Lucienne (Jennifer Decker). Director Tony Bill, an experienced pilot himself, guides his able ensemble cast to stirring performances, but the real stars of Flyboys are the film's astonishing aerial acrobatics, seamless CGI enhancements, spectacular special effects and Henry Braham's extraordinary photography, all of which put you right into the pilot's seat, and make Flyboys one helluva thrilling virtual flight.